Synchrony Financial $SYF Shares Sold by Acadian Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Acadian Asset Management LLC reduced its holding in Synchrony Financial by 55.8%, selling 817,773 shares during the first quarter.
• Synchrony Financial's stock opened at $74.82 and has a market capitalization of $27.84 billion, with a P/E ratio of 9.08.
• The company recently announced a $0.30 quarterly dividend with an annualized yield of 1.6%, reflecting a payout ratio of 14.56%.

Acadian Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 55.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 647,849 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 817,773 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.17% of Synchrony Financial worth $34,289,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 337.0% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 590 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 138.4% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 110,303 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $5,839,000 after purchasing an additional 64,044 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 7.7% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 6,406 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 459 shares during the last quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 24.4% during the first quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,731 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 36.2% during the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 35,582 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,884,000 after purchasing an additional 9,460 shares during the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Synchrony Financial Stock Down 1.6%

SYF stock opened at $74.82 on Thursday. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $40.54 and a 52-week high of $77.41. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $71.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.08, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.49.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $2.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.78. The firm had revenue of $3.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.71 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 21.34%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.55 EPS. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th were paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 5th. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio is currently 14.56%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Synchrony Financial to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $52.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. Rothschild & Co Redburn assumed coverage on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Friday, August 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $72.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $48.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $74.05.

Insider Buying and Selling at Synchrony Financial

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Darrell Owens sold 600 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.95, for a total value of $40,770.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 21,372 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,452,227.40. This represents a 2.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 8,514 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total transaction of $595,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 68,588 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,801,160. This represents a 11.04% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 20,494 shares of company stock worth $1,376,450. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Synchrony Financial Profile

Synchrony Financial, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer financial services company in the United States. It provides credit products, such as credit cards, commercial credit products, and consumer installment loans. The company also offers private label credit cards, dual co-brand and general purpose credit cards, short- and long-term installment loans, and consumer banking products; and deposit products, including certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, and savings accounts, and sweep and affinity deposits, as well as accepts deposits through third-party securities brokerage firms.

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